Latin America

In Latin America we work in Colombia, supporting the country’s transition to peace. Despite persistent political polarisation, Colombia has seen significant developments, especially with implementation of the peace agreement, which was signed between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2016, to end over 50 years of conflict.

Our work in Colombia challenges convention, by enabling those who are often excluded from the official peace process to participate in the ongoing transition to peace. We specifically focus on women’s empowerment and support a grassroots network of indigenous women, as well as Colombian women living in the diaspora.

The Colombian peace process

Between 2012 and 2016 we supported the peace negotiations which took place in Havana between the Government of Colombia and the FARC. We shared lessons learned from other peace processes with the negotiating parties and with civil society organisations. Since 2016, Congress has enacted several laws, and former combatants have successfully decommissioned their weapons and created a new political party. The main concerns now are the increase in killings of social leaders, and the uncertainty surrounding the sustained implementation of the peace agreement. Despite the progress made, Colombia still needs a more inclusive and cohesive peace process.

We have also provided informal advice and analysis on the peace talks between the Government of Colombia and National Liberation Army (ELN), notably on options to promote increased public participation. At the same time, through documenting and sharing the innovations from the Colombian peace process, we help inform similar processes in other contexts.

We are working with over 400 women from the Colombian diaspora in London and Barcelona, many of whom have shared their stories of migration and of war. Developing an innovative methodology, the process of ‘active memory’ used to gather the various testimonies has had a powerful transformative impact on the women involved – contributing to healing, social reparation and reconciliation. As part of this work, we are connecting to the official Truth Commission in Colombia, as well as looking to roll out the methodology to women from other diaspora communities.

Alongside our partner CIASE, we are supporting a network of indigenous women to play an active role in the country’s peace process. The National Coordination of Indigenous Women in Colombia (CONAMIC) consists of women from ten different indigenous communities across Colombia. We have provided training to over 150 women, as well as an innovative internship opportunity with CIASE in Bogota, which allows the indigenous women to engage with and directly lobby national and international decision-makers. Two of the CONAMIC members stood in legislative elections in 2018, empowered in part by their involvement in the network.

Indigenous women are totally invisible, discriminated against, and excluded, even in their own territories and by some indigenous authorities. CONAMIC allowed me to understand that this situation is also common in many other towns. The alliance of women motivated me to join electoral politics.